Chemotherapy or Observation in Treating Patients With Early Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer * Any variant allowed (e.g., pure or mixed bronchioloalveolar carcinoma or adenosquamous cell carcinoma) * Primary tumor must be T1a, T1b, T2a, or T2b by AJCC 7.0 * No status * Tumor measuring ≥ 2.0 cm but ≤ 7.0 cm in diameter by CT scan * The mass must have a source document to verify tumor size in the greatest dimension, which includes a CT scan report, a clinic note from the enrolling physician, and/or a printed image with caliper measurements on the lung mass * Node-negative disease * Evidence of hilar or mediastinal node involvement by chest CT scan (\> 1 cm diameter) must be assessed with mediastinoscopy, endo-esophageal ultrasound with biopsy, endo-bronchial ultrasound, bronchoscopy, or mediastinal nodal sampling before or at time of thoracotomy * No locally advanced or metastatic disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status 0-1 * Granulocytes ≥ 1,500/μL * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/μL * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL * AST \< 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No history of prior or concurrent malignancy, except curatively treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix, basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, surgically treated in situ carcinoma of the breast, or other cancer for which the patient has been disease-free for 3 years PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * More than 3 years since prior cytotoxic or anticancer treatment * No concurrent treatment with hormones or other chemotherapeutic agents, except steroids given for adrenal failure, hormone administered for nondisease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes), or intermittent use of dexamethasone as an antiemetic * No concurrent thoracic radiotherapy